Automatic book marker



R E F A S A.

AUTOMAT I C BOOK-MARKER Filed Aug. 16, 1946 INVENTO'R. Abe 501% er BY ATTOR Y Patented Feb. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims. (Cl. 116-119) This invention relates to book-markers. More particularly, the invention deals with devices of this kind having means for automatic-ally marking the pages in the operation of turning the same, so as to indicate at all times, the particular place in a book for the reader to return to. Still more particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character described comprising telescoping parts, with means for controlling frictional engagement between the parts in control of the telescoping movementl thereof. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together -with the accompanying drawing in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View through a part of a book and a marker device arranged thereon, indicating the marking finger in full and dotted lines position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the marker detached, and on a smaller scale than that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view as seen in Fig. 2.

- Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective and sectional view showing the formation of one of the pivot bearings for the marking linger; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating several positions of thedevice.

The present invention deals with book-markers of the general type and kind disclosed in Patent Number 2,387,607, dated October 23, 1945.

My improved marker has been materially simplified and improved to the extent of reducing manufacturing cost and in control of relative movement of the telescoping parts employed in the device so as to render the same substantially foolproof in use.

In the present adaptation of my invention, as illustrated in the drawing, I0 represents what may be termed the main or stationary part, It the primary sleeve which telescopes over a portion of the part I0, and I2 the sectional sleeve or telescoping part. The part I0 comprises an elongated strip of material of substantially the same width throughout its length. This strip is folded, as seen at I3, to form a mounting end portion I4 and a supporting plate portion I5. The mounting end portion I4 is cutout, as seen of the structure at IB to form a spring finger I1 having an abrupt` 2 conjunction with the end I4 forms a clip construction for securely retaining the device upon a support, such for example, as a cover I9 of a book, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The free end of the plate I5 has centrally thereof a' downturned stop 20 which limits outward movement of the primary sleeve II on the plate I5.

The primary sleeve or telescoping member II includes a top wall 2| and two bottom walls v22 and 23 which are integrally joined at the top wall in the folded side edges. The bottom wall 23 is cutout to form an elongated aperture 25, said wall extending at its inner end to form a stop 2B defining one end of the channel 25 andV against which the stop linger 20 strikes in limiting outward movement in the sleeve I I.

The top wall 2l of the part` II has at its front end a downwardly extending flange 21 which closes the outer end of the sleeve part Ii and' also forms a stop limiting outward movementA of the supplemental sleeve part I2. The supporting plate I5 has upwardly turned side edge portions, as indicated at 28, note Fig. 4. The purpose of this construction is to minimize frictional engagement of the sleeve part II on the supporting plate so that the primary sleeve part II will slide freely on the plate I5, whereas frictional engagement of the supplemental sleeve part I2 with the part II is greater so as to ator deep shoulder portion I8. The nger I'I in 55 all times maintain the part I2 at the outer end of part II until part II has reached its innermost position, as is indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawing, after which the part I2 is free to slide on the part Il to its innermost position, as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawing. 1

When the marker device is in the vfully extended position, the partsr are substantially as seen, diagrammatically, in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the stop finger 20 being in engagement with the stop 26 and the sleeve I2 in engagement with the stop flange 21. The above method of operation is improved from the standpoint of automatic control and to avoid unnecessary protruding of the marker, particularly when a book has been partially read.

The supplemental sleeve part I2 is in the form of a narrow band folded to form a top wall 29 and bottom walls 30 and 3l, the latter being cutout, as seen at 32 and 33 and curled to form a pair of substantially cylindrical pivot bearings 34 and 35 with a space 36 therebetween. This space is provided to clear the stop linger 20, as will clearly appear from a consideration of Figs. 3 .and 4 of the drawing.

The bottom walls 22- an-d 23 of the part I I have at their inner ends downwardly extending stop anges 22' and 23' which prevent displacement of the sleeve part I2 from the inner end of the part I I. In other words, the part I2 is always maintained within the limits of end portions of the part II and cannot be telescoped onto the supporting plate I5.

At 37 is shown the page marker nger which is pivotally mounted in the bearings 34 and 35, the iinger 3l having an elongated aperture 38 at its upper end, which forms at said end, and within the limits of the aperture, a pivot portion 39. It will thus be apparent that the finger is free to swing at all times in the bearings v3l! and 35 in the operation of turning the pages of a book, so that the finger is raised by the page and vthen drops, by graviy, against the next adjacent page. Whenever a partially read book is closed. it will be apparent that the iinger 31 will be maintained in proper position to indicate the page to turn to when next reading the book.

My improved device is applicable for use in coniunction with any type of readingr matter, the device being made in such vdimensions as to suit reading matter of different types and kinds.

Considering the several parts, it will appear that all of the parts` are constructed from a minimum amount of material, and therefore. can be. produced economically. The cutout portions of the part I 2 forming the bearings 34 and 35 are curled through the aperture -38 in making the assemblage. The device can be constructed of sheet material of any type `or kind, it Amay be all sheet metal, or all plastics, or a combination of sheet metal and plastics.

In the partially, or what might be termed halfcollapsing or telescoping of the part, the part II will be in the position shown in Fig. '7, with the sleeve l2 still at the outer end of the part II. Upon bringing the marker to the last page of the book, the sleeve I2 moves on the part I I until it strikes the stop 22 and 23', at which time, the nger 3l is adiacent'the spring nger I'I. It will be understood that in `initial use of the device, the sleeve II is adiusted to desired position on the plate I 5, to bring the marking finger 31 upon the iirst page of the book to be read. With a book held in a horizontal or slightly inclined position, the part II will slide by gravity on the plate I in accomplishing this result. This movement will continue until the part II has completed its innermost movement. Thereafter, from time to time, it may be necessary for the reader to move the sleeve l2 inwardly on the part Il, due to the greater frictional engagement between these parts. but this latter frictional engagement is still slight.

It will appear that the pivot bearings 34 and 35 are formed from the material of .the supplemental slide within the width of the strip from which said slide is formed, the material being curled directly upon the strip to form in* conjunction with the strip the pivot bearings for the indicator finger. It will also be apparent that the width of the finger is maintained within the boundaries of the width of the part I I, so as to facilitate packaging of the complete device.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A book-marker of the class described formed from a plurality of narrow strip parts, one part being bent to form a clip body portion and a supporting plate disposed substantially at right angles to each other, a spring iinger formed from the material of said clip body part and being offset with respect to the inner surface thereof, another part comprising an elongated sleeve slidably engaging said plate, means on the under-surface of said plate and said sleeve for checking outward movement of the sleeve on said plate, a supplemental sleeve slidably engaging the rst sleeve, means at end portions of the iirst named sleeve checking sliding movement of the supplemental sleeve in both directions thereon, said supplemental sleeve comprising a narrow strip substantially encircling the first named sleeve, a pair of cylindrical bearings formed from the material of said strip within .boundaries thereof, said bearings being disposed on the inner surface of the supplemental sleeve, and a marking nger pivotally supported in said bearings.

2. A book-marker of the class described formed from a plurality of narrow strip parts, one part being bent to form a clip body portion and a supporting plate disposed substantially at right angles to each other, a spring linger formed from the material of said clip body part and being offset with respect to the inner surface thereof, another part comprising an elongated sleeve slidably engaging said plate, means on the undersurface of said plate and said sleeve for checking outward movement of the sleeve on said plate, a supplemental sleeve slidably engaging the rst sleeve, means at end portions of the first named sleeve checking sliding movement of the supplemental sleeve in both directions thereon, said supplemental sleeve comprising a narrow strip substantially encircling the rst named sleeve, a pair of cylindrical bearings formed from the material of said strip .within vboundaries thereof, said bearings being disposed on the inner surface of the supplemental sleeve, a marking nger pivotally supported in said bearings, and said supporting plate having upwardly extending side edge portions minimizing frictional engagement of the first named sleeve in movement longitudinally of said plate.

3. A book-marker of the class described formed from a plurality of narrow strip parts, one part being bent to form a clip body portion and a supporting plate disposed substantially at right angles to each other, a spring finger formed from the material of said clip body part and being offset with respect to the inner surface thereof, another part comprising an elongated sleeve slidably engaging said plate, means on the undersurface of said plate and said sleeve for checking outward movement of the sleeve on said plate, a supplemental sleeve slidably engaging the iirst sleeve, means at end portions of the lrst named sleeve checking sliding movement of the supplemental sleeve in both directions thereon, said supplemental sleeve comprising a narrow strip substantially encircling the rst named sleeve, a pair of cylindrical bearings formed from the material of' said strip within boundaries thereof, said bearings being disposed on the inner vsurface of the supplemental sleeve, a marking finger pivotally supported in said bearings, said supporting plate having upwardly extending side edge portions minimizing frictlonal engagement of the rst named sleeve in movement longitudinally of said plate, and said supplemental sleeve having aY greater frictional engagement with the rst named sleeve to maintain the supplemental sleeve at the outerend portion of the rst named sleeve of the bottom wall, means retaining said sleeve e against displacement from said plate, the other telescoping part comprising a narrow sleeve substantially enveloping the first sleeve, means formed from the material of the last Inamed sleeve within side edge boundaries thereof forming a pivot bearing on the lower surface thereof, means checking movement of the last named sleeve in both directions on said first named sleeve, and an indicator nger pivotally supported in the bearing of said second named sleeve.

5. A book-mark comprising a stationary part and two parts telescoping with each other and with the first named part, said first named part comprising plates disposed substantially at right angles to each other, said telescoping parts slidably engaging one of said plates, the other plate including a spring finger for clamping engagement with a sleeve having a closed top wall and an elongated opening longitudinally of the bottom wall, means retaining said sleeve against displacement from said plate, the other telescoping part comprising a narrow sleeve substantially enveloping the first sleeve, means formed fromv the material of the last named sleeve within side edge boundaries thereof forming a pivot bearing on the lower surface thereof, means checking movement of the last named sleeve in both directions on said first named sleeve, an indicator finger pivotally supported 4in the bearing of said second named sleeve, and the means checking movement of the second named sleeve in one direction on the rst named sleeve comprising a flange integral with the top wall of the first named sleeve and closing one end thereof.

6. A book-mark of the class described comprising a stationary part having angularly disposed wall portions, means fashioned from the material of one wall portion and offset with respect to one surface thereof to form in conjunction with said wall portion a spring clip for mounting on a support, long and narrow sleeves slidably engaging the other wall portion, the long sleeve being directly mounted on said wall portion and the narrow sleeve slidably engaging the rst sleeve, both sleeves having closed upper walls and open bottom walls, means retaining the long sleeve against displacement from said wall portion, means checking movement of the narrow sleeve in both directions on said long sleeve, a pair of bearings formed from the material of the bottom wall of said narrow sleeve within side edge boundaries thereof, and a marker-finger pivotally supported in said bearing..l

ABE SAFIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

